A Statesman Ahead of His Times
Before independence and years prior to Gandhi’s Salt March, there was one man who was openly defiant in the British administration—Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair. Nair resigned from the Viceroy’s Council in protest of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919. He described British rule as brutal and unacceptable.
The point is not that Nair resigned, though there is much to be learnt from that—it is that Nair’s resignation as a member of the British administration had important effects upon the very foundation of colonial power.
The Courtroom that Rocked an Empire
Nair’s fiery assault on Punjab’s Lieutenant Governor Michael O’Dwyer resulted in a sensational libel case in London. In 1924, the case became the object of colonial attention. Nair lost the case but refused to issue an apology—merely paid damages and walked away.
Defiance, only in very rare cases, has the ability to transform loss in court into a moral victory. And, in this case, Nair’s defiance would reverberate louder than any tabloid headline—for the world to hear about the horrors of colonial violence.
Akshay Kumar Brings The Case Alive In Kesari Chapter 2
A significant part of Nair’s experience may have been lost in the history books, but Bollywood is about to change that. Akshay Kumar’s Kesari Chapter 2 will emphasise this forgotten hero’s fight against the empire, turning courtroom accounts into cinematic explosives.
The film not only pays homage to Nair’s legacy but also, again, shows him to a generation ignorant of his courage and nationalism.
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The Soul Of A Fighter: More than a Bureaucrat
Sankaran Nair was not a conventional type. He was often very critical of both the British Empire and extremist nationalism—he was always looking to rationalise things and then act without fear.
He spoke up for women, against caste injustices, and even in contradictions to Mahatma Gandhi’s principles—he was a statesman with complexity. In his autobiography and letters, Nair exposed these contradictions of empire and the limits of nationalism.
Relevance: Why Nair’s Story is Relevant Here and Now
Film and politics continue to intersect, and Nair’s story provides a relevant reminder about what resistance looks like today. Not loud hashtags, but real courageous acts in institutions.
There is a message for today’s youth in Nair’s reaction to the Jallianwala Bagh incident and belief in truth over fear.
Box Office Worldwide Verdict
Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair is the freedom fighter we didn’t know we needed. His fearless rebellion against the British Empire requires more than just a footnote in history — and Kesari Chapter 2 could finally give him the long-overdue platform.
The house fire that is portrayed by Akshay Kumar of this courtroom warrior should restore pride and cause you to think. A long-forgotten rebel will finally be heard—through the screen and in our conscience.
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